Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-04-03

4 miss from heaven" the man re-
A light that drew nv spirit TO II :"
And 70 the man the woman sighed,
/ miss from earth a poet.
Robert Bsluosy, Lord Lyttsn.
Olive LOGAN,
In Letter 20 the Philadelphia Press,
mas Something to Say Absza
DeeoFation.
There was never yet fair woman
but she made mouths in q glass. -
King Lear, Aet III.
The ridiculous custom Of decorating
every available object in the house
with bows Of ribbon has extended even
to candles-not the kitchen candles, of
course, but those intended for bedroom
and parlOr. The ribbons are Of any
color that may happen to please the
eye OF the mistress Of the house, and
are attached to the candle close to the
candlestick, where, naturally enough,
they produce a most imposing effect.
IL is perhaps unnecessary to state that
this kind Of candle is not meant TO be
used. On the other hand, il is permits
sible to eat ones dinner roll, which Is
likewise adorned with a ribbon fast
ened about it. There is some cOnsola-
ton in this fact. Doubtless, however.
we shall soon be treated to the en-
chanting spectacle of a sirloin of beef
with broad satin sash wound round
its middle, or perhaps roast chicken
garnished with a brilliant cravat: in
fact, devices Of this kind admit of no
limitations.
Speaking Of ribbons, 1t is noticeable
that the number of scarfs and drape-
ries IN the drawing room is rapidly
diminishing. IL has become possible
to sit in q chair without undergoing
the torture Of having the back Of ones
neck scratched by tinsel embroidery.
while the voluminous folds Of silk and
linen that once swathed the sofa and
dangled over the edge of the piano are
now hardly to be seen in fashionable
houses. A few fine embroideries give
q striking and artistic appearance to a
room, but their employment should
be regulated by the ordinary rules of
common sense that unfortunately are
not displayed in every household To |
take long scarf, tie great knot in the |
center and pin IL to the back Of a couch
with the ends outspread like the wings
OF gigantic bat has naught to do with
either beauty or art
Wedding presents have of recent
years become abSurdly costly and COR
geous. The old fashion, which was
started among the Dutch, of giving |
the young couple their household APP
pointmehts and q sum of money with |
which 10 begin, has now degenerated |
into very bold display of wealth and |
ostentatious generosity, so that friends |
of moderate means are 10th to send /
anything. Silver and gold services, too |
precious 10 be trusted TO ordinary lock |
and key, are displayed at the wedding |
and Immediately sent of 10 some con- |
venient safe. This is one of the inev-
table overgrowths OF luxury which /
Americans have not vet learned to |
manage. In France they do better. |
Those nearest Of kin subscribe a sum
of money, which is sent to the brides
mother, who expends it for articles /
most needed or coveted by the bride. |
So far has this custom tran |
scsnded good taste that now many |
persons OF refinement hesitate to show |
the presents.
Miss Ransom. lady who has ma
tional reputation as portrait painter. |
called on me the other evening and /
discOursed Of her art Just as the sun |
was sinking in tumultuous glory such /
as Turner loved TO perpetuate on can
vas. The American disciple Of Angelic |
Kaufman has recently painted a por-
trait 20 f1aparaI o. y a g. a., -. q
Toledo, for which she has received sat
isfactOry guerdon as well as the price
less boon Of praise. Mrs Garfield was 1
highly enthusiastic in her commenda-
ton Of Miss Ransom's happy touch in /
catching the likeness of the ill-starred |
President, and all the friends and ac-
quRintances of the famed owner of |
Mentor farm agree with his widow in |
avowIng that no better semblance of /
the man in his habit as he lived " is |
anywhere TO be seen. Before General |
Garfield went 10 the White House he |
commissioned Miss Ransom TO paint |
for him a portrait of his aged mother.
and that the performance resulted in |
a likeness Of the kind which is popu- |
larry known as speaking" /, myself. |
am able 20 testify from personal OBJ
servation. In spite of these successes
Miss Ransom complains bitterly OF
n-appreciation from the public at
large, and Of terrible lack Of paving
patrons. She has been Obliged TO re-
tinQuish her studio in Cleveland, which
she had occupied for p wears, because
the landlord tripled the rent on her,
and there seemed no prospect of a trip
ling Of orders by which 10 meet the in
creased expense. Her life-sized, full
length portrait Of General Thomas still
remains unsold; the Senate vote for
its purchase having been vetoed in
committee. The disappointed artist
attributes her failure 10 achieve for
tune-fame she undoubtedly possesses
to the fact that the Advise saw fit
20 decree that she should be a woman
She points 10 works in statuary and
painting in Washington which are
| scarcely better than CariCatures, but
for which high prices have been paid
| and upon which little or no adverse
/ criticism has been heard. and il Is GER
| tainly true that while Winnie Ream's
d" Lincoln provoked unbounded deri-
sion. other statues of heroes are at the
| Capitol. which. % say the least, are in
| no way superior. but have entirely es-
caped the lash og satire Miss Ransom
| discovered q wide reason for" this thus
| ness This single Ream was a woman:
the many quires were men.
Can this be true7 II So. il is a cut %
i cold shoulder which Is not served our
sex in any country but Americs. Rus
kin Is never tired o. proclaiminC the
! fne superiority Of woman in every
l thing she touches. and even among
those grossest of men, the French and
Germans. it has long ago been con-
eeded that there Is no sex IN literature
and art.